Family Research Council's Tony Perkins to Speak at Supreme Court Rally in Support of Baker Jack Phillips

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, December 5, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins will address a rally outside the United States Supreme Court in support of Colorado Baker Jack Phillips. The rally sponsored by the Radiance Foundation marks the start to oral arguments for the case of Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Travis Weber, FRC’s Director of the Center for Religious Liberty will attend the oral arguments and speak at the news conference following.

“The U.S. Supreme Court now has an opportunity to issue a ruling that makes clear the government has no authority to force Americans like Jack Phillips to use their artistic talents to celebrate events with which they have a moral and/or religious disagreement,” said Family Research Council President Tony Perkins. “As Americans, our consensus on religious freedom has historically recognized the God-given right of Americans to live all aspects of their lives according to their faith. This is no different today. Attempting to restrict religious conviction to the four walls of a church is not freedom, that is tyranny,” concluded Perkins.

Travis Weber, Director of the Center for Religious Liberty at the Family Research Council added the following comments:

"What needs to be understood in the case of Jack Phillips is that over Jack's career he happily served countless customers—whether they identify as LGBT or not. When he was asked to make a wedding cake for a gay couple he offered to make any other type of cake for the customers, but explained that he could not in good conscience make a cake celebrating a same-sex ceremony.”

"At the center of this case is the question of whether the government can force an individual to proclaim a message against their religious beliefs. The answer to that question should be an obvious ‘no’ and we hope the Court makes this clear by strongly affirming that all Americans’ First Amendment free speech and creative expression rights are protected against government coercion," concluded Weber.

WHO:Tony Perkins, President, Family Research CouncilTravis Weber, Director of the Center for Religious Liberty, Family Research CouncilPatrina Mosley, Assistant Director, Family Research Council Action